An Impactful New Rock Single from Manneq In Me

A new release from Manneq In Me pulls together a slew of impressive heavy rock influences and turns out this amazingly impactful and emotionally driving classic heavy rock power ballad.

This single displays some outstanding vocal performances that cry out and come through packed with personality and truth.

You just get the feeling that this song absolutely came from someplace real. That authenticity is there in the lyrics and in the vocal performance as well, which has this beautiful soul and robustness to it throughout the entire track.

The song is called "War", and the first thing that you hear is this vast guitar work that is accompanied by a softer rock undertone, which is part of how the song is built. There is calm before the storm, which is this big chorus. The guitar work across this track is unbelievable. The guitars add so much passion to the song and are on the same level of intensity as a lot of the vocals are, in my opinion.

The track has several guitars layered on top of each other, one doing a plucking of notes while another one strums chords, drenched in a chorus-like effect, creating this depth and almost drifting aesthetic to the song, as the vocals come in and grab your attention.

The whole dynamic between the guitars and the vocals across the single is beautiful. They manage to complement each other in such unique ways.

There's a short pre-chorus that builds right into that robust and vivacious, intense, and edgy chorus. When the chorus kicks in, she really belts everything out, and that's when you start really feeling that emotional pull in a bit more of a heavy-handed manner.

The guitars become fully distorted, and the chorus is just sonically right in your face. The whole thing still has that spacious underbelly, even during those choruses, so it breathes a little bit of a cinematic backbone to me.

I absolutely love this because it pulled me into the song even further. This is definitely the kind of track that can swallow you up or engulf you right from the start.

Once you get to that first chorus, there's no going back.

Now, anyone who listens to this track may interpret it in their own way. For me, this is a little bit about an inner struggle but also an outer one. It's about a relationship, a bit of heartbreak, a bit of loss, and a bit of Triumph.

Again, someone else may interpret it differently, but for me, the message was a bit loud and clear.

What grabbed me lyrically is how descriptive she can be with her metaphors.

"Open your mouth, I want to feel the words as they come out like bullets on my skin."

This is such an imperative line and the very first line of the song as well.

So, you get an idea for the sort of elegant but edgy, metaphoric lyrical approach that you get throughout the soul song. There are plenty of parts that are a bit more straightforward, but the way that she articulates those lyrics is really something.

The whole thing is quite powerful and definitely leaves a heavy impact.

For some reason, it makes me think of artists like Pat Benatar, but heavier. That massive passion and basis of love and heartbreak are all right there, in your face, but it has that alternative edginess that sits as an overcoat so that everything sort of packs a harder punch.

The single was insanely well-woven and also comes with an amazing music video.

The video was shot very well, and it sits almost like watching a movie.

They really put everything into this track, and you can tell that everyone involved has a massive love for their craft. Yes, the singing, the guitar work, but really writing songs together. It's when they write songs together that they're able to form something that has a huge intensity and, gracefully, almost poetic message behind it.

I suggest watching this video for the first time you listen to the song. It's definitely the best way to go because their presence on screen really helps push their presence as artists as well.

This song gives you plenty to chew on. It gives me bouts of nostalgia because I grew up listening to well-articulated, perfectly crafted sort of heavy rock ballads, and they managed to nail that aesthetic so insanely well that I was unable to turn away.

The two women at the helm of the whole thing, Rachel and Shelly. I needed to find out where this all came from and what might be coming up next for them, so while you listen to this single, take a read through of our interview with the band below.

Do not forget where you heard this first.

Let's talk about "War"! The guitar work was just outstanding and the whole thing had a classic heavy handed alt-rock tone! Where did this songcome from? 

Shelley: The song was an emotional outpouring for me. I was sitting in my living room late one night and I just let loose. I wrote the song in a couple of hours and just kept listening back to it. I knew it would be a great track. 

Rachel: Firstly Thankyou for the compliment on the guitars. As most of our tracks we tend to feel it works better within shels vocals with a heavier dynamic and gives her lyrics and vocals that extra emotional feel. We both like the rock / heavier music that’s influenced us over the years. It’s a powerful/ emotional thing for us I think.

I'm hearing a few different approaches to this single! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Shelley: My influences are hard to pin down. I grew up on country music and when I was about 13, I discovered my love for Cyndi Lauper. Then there are the more alternative influences like Incubus. Very varied!

Rachel: My influences.. oh god !! I grew up on black sabbath, iron maiden and that usually stuff .  But then I also listen to a lot of classical.  My biggest influences these last years have been bands like “ it bites, the fixx , dio , alanis Morrisette , so damn many!!! . .  , Some  of my favourite guitar players are Guthrie govan , Martin Goulding , Jamie humphries , Jennifer batten.  and all those wild cats that have that amazing technique and ability.

Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

Rachel: Recording. It’s mostly done at mine and Shelley’s home studios.  We both fire ideas back and forth then get together at my studio to go through things and tweak . That can be lots of fun !! 

However we have been very very fortunate to be in contact with the most amazing Sylvia Massy and we are so incredibly grateful that she liked the track enough to produce it for us “ and many more “ !! 

Love this video! Did it take long to put together?

Shelley: The location we chose for the main part of the video was flooded on the day of the shoot. We had to think on our feet a little and Rachel pulled it out of the bag. Sometimes it works out better on the hop like that. 

Rachel: The video!  Initially it was intended to be a lyric video.,, but both shel and I are a little eccentric and also the tracks feel so good sometimes we think they deserve a good video.   It took us around a week to finally get done in some pretty tough conditions at this time of year in wales “ and in winter “ ! 

Do you write songs together, or does one person normally bring ideas back?

Shelley: Rachel and I have a quiet understanding on how we want things to sound. We sing from the same hymn sheet and it always seems to work out. We are very musically connected. 

Rachel: Shelley is a directory of lyrics and emotion, It’s rather incredible.  She usually comes up with an idea ( normally using samples as a guide ). I then take it ( or I ping her an idea) and it just goes from there ,  I take the vocal stems and work around it adding what I think might work. It usually works out ok.

How did this all start for you as a band?

Rachel: I have been playing for many years, and since building my studio I have been writing.  

I stumbled upon Shelley but total accident.  She was casually banging out some covers on Facebook, and I thought Mmmm. What and interesting voice and phasing !  I sent an intro / verse and chorus of a track I wrote “ my goodness “ must be 8 years ago now “ ! . And asked her if she would like to put some lyrics / melody to it .  It was a track I wrote after a terrible time in a damaging relationship ( hence further from you )

Plenty of musicians have come and gone, but we know we have raised our game in the music industry.  … but I know we have the best bass player that’s working with us and is totally committed to us as a project and we have also brought in an incredible drummer to work with us. .  

Are you performing live right now? 

Rachel: Currently we are studio collaboration.  But 2026 brings a whole new era to the MIM music.  We are going to take our music out live , starting with some acoustic sets and by late spring early summer bringing some  pretty impressive live shows on .

What advice would you give to bands or artists trying to get heard out there?

Shelley: The only advice I would give is to stick to your vision. Do it because it feels right to you and don't be afraid to take creative risks.

What would you say people can expect from this single?

Shelley: People should expect to hear honesty and lived experiences in our music. Not just in this single but across the board. We write from the heart and my lyrics are a reflection of life through my eyes. Hopefully it finds the people that need to hear it.

Rachel: We would like think that our audience can get something from our music “ emotionally “ relate to it and just enjoy the experience with us. .  

Now that this is out, what's next for you as a band?

Shelley: We have a lot of ideas to run with musically and releasing an album is one of our next goals, as well as getting out live. 

Who's in all your headphones right now?

Shelley: In my headphones right now........Bad Omens, Nothing More, Daughtry, Sleep token. I recently saw Bad Omens and Nothing More live and they were amazing.

Rachel: Right now is MIM. Because we live and breath it. It’s going to only get better!! 

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